The Tao, though, suggests we “do less, and do less ... until there is nothing that is not done.” The Tao’s emphasis is onwu-wei, “effortless effort”: when we let go of striving, harmony emerges easily and naturally.

Both Zen and Qigong have deep roots in the Tao. However, because we live in a society which emphasizes achievement, “doing” and activity, this can seep into even our zazen and Qigong.

This workshop will focus on helping us return to being “just natural” by nurturing subtle aspects of the quality of our effort in everything we do. We will study verses of the Tao Te Ching and passages from Chuang Tzu, then apply them to Zen practice through forms used in Dayan (Wild Goose) Qigong. We’ll do acupressure self-massage, and explore how small adjustments in how we place our hands, feet, and face can help us feel a greater sense of ease and balance. Merging flowing and stillness, our everyday activity becomes a dharma gate to great ease and joy.

Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum, PhDRobert Rosenbaum, PhD, Meikyo Onza (Clear Mirror Calm Sitting), began Zen practice in 1971 and received lay entrustment from Sojun Mel Weitsman in 2008. Bob is also authorized as a senior teacher of Dayan (Wild Goose) Qigong by Master Hui Liu. He is the author of Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching and Zen and the Heart of Psychotherapy. Bob has been a Fulbright professor at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in India, and director of the doctoral training program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He spends several months a year hiking in the Sierras and leads meditation and Qigong treks in the Himalayas of India and Nepal.